Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-04
CRITICAL STATE OF AFFAIRS In
FRANCE.

The situation of affairs in France is de-
cidedly critical. The formation of the new
cabinet doesn't appear to have given very
general satisfaction to the masses OF the
people. The retirement of General Bou-
LANCER, the personiication of the war spirit,
unless he shall show q wise discl elton. will
lead to q popular demonstration which
may lead to serious results. He is the idol
OF the common people. So far he has been
quite diecreet, declaring in his address that
he would be the first to give an example of
both military and republican discipline.
His successor in announcing his policy was
wise in declaring that he would devote his
whole time to increasing the defenses OF the
republic. This may satisfy the people
as to his good intentions, but what
can he be expected to accomplish when the
Prime Minister admits that his policy will
be ono of retrenchment, and that the new
budget will be prepared in accord with the
vote of the Chamber of Deputies, which led
to the resignation of the Boulanger, or
peace on d war footing basis, Ministry?
These paradoxical positions can hardly be
reconciled on any harmonious basis. The
strain on the popular mind is very severe,
and the appearance OF General B%oulanger
at the Opera House fete may lead to riot
GUS results. There is no Disgusting the fact
that French politics are nearing a crisis more
serious than has confronted the republic
for years.
In the meantime Germany is getting her
self on q peace footing by fortifying the
provinces OF Alsace and Lorraine. the real
apple OF discord between these powerful
every Frenchman is the spirit of hostile
intent toward the Government which
heaped upon France the humility OF
capturing Paris. the grand capital, then
exacting from her the expenses of the ex-
plot and finally wrested from the fallen
Zoe as tributes of the triumph, the fair
provinces OF Alace and Lorraine. Adding
insult to injury Germany forced upon
the conquered provinces the German Ian
guage. Brooding over these misfortunes OF
an i'll advised war, may any time lead the
French people to the madness Of precipi-
Eating q conflict for the ccoverv OF their
lost possessions. and for sating an all
consuming vehgs6ce on a hated foe. When
the poplar spirit shall have been wrought
up to a fighting pitch, the power in
authority must yield or the whole fabric
of the republic will be overthrown. The
French only lack a leader to rush
to arms and they think they
have found him in General Boulanger. He
has, in fact, proven himself a great organ
g~aniser, but his field work as a commander
in active hostilities is yet an unknown
quantity. Like General Mcclellan, he may
be q great organizer, and yet not be equal
to the emergency OF achieving success as a
practical campaigner.
*x*
1t has been a marvel to men who are IA
miliar with the French as a people. first
that they should have been the first OF the
European nations to adopt a repul,-
ASH form of government, and
,ist md that the republic should
have endured SO long. It has
passed through many changes OF ministry
and still survived. and we hope will en-
dGre to the end Of time, but sooner or later
It must yield to the popular spirit of re-
sentiment against the hereditary enemy.
which - s----:-. -;+h the ~<----- va"
people. They paid their war indemnity
perhaps quicker han any other nation OF
Europe could have done. They are now
fully recuperated and are FESTIVE: their ma
tive agressiveness, is beginning to assert it.
self and is finding expression on every pos
sible occasion.
Although the Chamber of Deputies failed
to support the war party by q small ma
jority, we believe il the question were sub
mitted to a vote OF the people to-day,
whether they would nave war with Ger
many or not, that they would vote in the
affirmative. There seems but little
trust to be placed in the stability OF the
present ministry because it does not repre-
sent the war spirit OF the masses of the
French people. which is becoming intensi-
fed by time.
There is but one power on earth that can
restrain the war spirit in France, and that
is the one welded by Bismarck. he OF
blood and iron. The French will be fool
ish to invite another chastisement, and
the clearer headed counsellors who still
dominate the councils OF the nations feel
the force of the fact keenly, and are doing
all that in them lies to restrain the natu-
tendency OF an impulsive people.
It is eminently fitting and proper that